As long as thou carriest about with thee thy mortal body, thou shalt feel trouble and heaviness of heart.
Thou oughtest therefore, as long as thou art in the flesh, oftentimes to bewail the burden of the flesh; for that thou canst not without intermission be employed in spiritual exercises and divine contemplation.
2. At these times it is expedient for thee to fly to humble and exterior works, and to recreate thyself in good actions; to look for my coming and heavenly visitation with an assured hope; to bear with patience thy banishment, and the aridity of thy mind, till thou be visited again by me, and delivered from all anguish.
For I will make thee forget thy pains, and enjoy eternal rest.
I will lay open before thee the pleasant fields of the scriptures, that thy heart being dilated, thou mayest begin to run the way of my commandments.
And that thou shalt say, the sufferings of this time have no proportion with the future glory, which shall be revealed in us. Romans viii.
Chap. LII.
That a man ought not to esteem himself worthy of consolation; but rather guilty of stripes.
1. Lord, I am not worthy of thy consolation, or any spiritual visitation; and therefore thou dealest justly with me, when thou leavest me poor and desolate.